Maharashtra SSC English (Second/Third Language) Board Paper June 2026

Q.1 (A) Do as directed (Attempt any four) : (8 marks)

(i) Complete the following words by using correct letters : (2) (a) pl_ce (b) fa_al (c) r_pid (d) sen_e

(ii) Put the following words in alphabetical order : (2) (a) tour, shop, window, leg (b) subject, select, sequence, suggest

(iii) Punctuate the following sentences : (2) (a) courage is a wonderful thing (b) whats that said kamal kishore

(iv) Make four words (minimum of three letters each) using the letters in the word : (2) ‘Characteristics’

(v) Write the related words as shown in the example : (2) [Web diagram: centre box “Play”; the related word “Neatly” is printed in a box on its right; four blank boxes are joined to the centre — two on the left, one at the top right and one at the bottom right.]

(vi) Complete the word-chain of ‘adjectives’. Add four words, each beginning with the last letter of the previous word : (2) little → .............. → .............. → .............. → ..............

Q.1 (B) Do as directed : (2 marks)

(i) Attempt any one : (1) (a) Make a meaningful sentence by using the phrase : ‘full of ’ OR (b) Add a clause to the following sentence to expand it meaningfully : I know the doctor .......................

(ii) Attempt any one : (1) (a) Add a prefix or suffix to make new words : (1) lucky (2) manage. OR (b) Make a meaningful sentence using any one of the following words : (1) lucky (2) manage.

Q.2 (A) Read the following passage and do the activities : (10 marks)

A1. Who am I ? (2) (i) I make the trees dance : .................. (ii) I colour the entire sky : ................... (iii) I take in a grain of sand : .................. (iv) I change my form without any ego : ..................

We saw an army of ants lugging a fly which was at least ten times the ant’s size. The ants organized themselves around the fly, lifted it on frail feelers and carried it to quite a distance. Their teamwork and perseverance were impressive. What if we too are consistent, organized, focused......Spider webs are delicate, yet very strong. A rainbow colours the entire sky. Oysters take in a grain of sand they open up with a pearl. Innumerable stars shine across the infinite sky. Clouds take new shapes with every passing moment. The wind makes trees dance with unhindered passion. Water, without hint of ego, changes its form according to the dictates of the sun and the wind. When we see a caterpillar turn into a butterfly, a flower turn into a fruit, we experience the alchemy of nature... we touch it and become gold ourselves.

A2. Complete the following tree diagram : (2) [Tree diagram: the root reads “Qualities”; it branches into “Ant” and “Spider”; below “Ant” are two blank boxes and below “Spider” are two blank boxes.]

A3. Find synonyms for the following from the passage : (2) (i) weak – .................. (ii) sparkle – .................. (iii) command – .................. (iv) countless – ..................

A4. Do as directed : (2) (i) We experience the alchemy of nature. (Rewrite in the past perfect tense) (ii) We saw an army of ants. (Frame ‘wh’ question to get underlined part as an answer)

A5. ‘Nature is a great teacher.’ Do you agree ? Why ? (2)

Q.2 (B) Read the following passage and do the activities : (10 marks)

B1. Match the following : (2) [Match the columns — Column ‘A’: (i) success (ii) life (iii) plan to execute (iv) visions, wishes, intentions and dreams spark off; Column ‘B’: (a) trumpet (b) imagination (c) walk in the dark (d) our strategies.]

Visions, wishes, intentions and dreams are all valuable. They spark off imagination and encourage us to define where we want to reach. In order to get there, however, we need to bring life images, down to earth and plan to execute our strategies. The quality and quantity of energy we put forth, directly impact the results. Life is something like a trumpet. If we don’t put anything in, we can’t get anything out.

Success is a walk in the dark. Finding the right footing, precisely mastering the skills and getting to the next place, all depend on how we approach and tackle the problem. The best way to get from where we are, to where we want to be is to find the footing of our next step. When we take the next step, it should support and hold us without a crack.

B2. Complete the following web : (2) [Web diagram: centre box “Valuable things for success”; four blank boxes are joined to it.]

B3. Find the antonyms for the following from the passage : (2) (i) wrong × .................. (ii) previous × .................. (iii) discourage × .................. (iv) solution × ..................

B4. Do as directed : (2) (i) We can’t get anything out. (Rewrite using ‘able to’) (ii) It should support and hold us without a crack. (Choose the option in which ‘as well as’ is used appropriately — the options are given in the next question.)

B5. What do you do to achieve success in the examination ? (2)

Q.2 (B) B4. (ii) It should support and hold us without a crack. (Choose the option in which ‘as well as’ is used appropriately)

Q.3 (A) Read the following stanzas and do the activities : (5 marks)

A1. Write whether the following statements are True or False : (2) (i) The poet advises to be a slave of habits. (ii) The poet tells us to kill our self-esteem. (iii) The poet tells us to listen to the sounds of life. (iv) The poet tells us to read and travel.

If you do not travel,
If you do not read,
If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.
You start dying slowly ...............

When you kill your self-esteem;
When you do not let others help you.
You start dying slowly..........

If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths..........
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.
You start dying slowly............

A2. The things that can lead to a slow death are .................. (2) (i) ............................ (ii) ............................ (iii) ............................ (iv) ............................

A3. Which expression is repeated in the above stanzas ? How many times ? (1)

Q.3 (B) Appreciation of the poem : (5 marks)

Read the following poem and write an appreciation of it with the help of the points given below :

O Captain! My Captain!

O Captain! My Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! My Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up – for you the flag is flung – for you the bugle trills;
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths–for you the shores
a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
— Walt Whitman

Points : Title (½) • Name of the poet (½) • Rhyme scheme (1) • Figure of speech (any one) (1) • Theme/Central idea (in 2 to 3 lines) (2).

Q.4 (A) Read the following passage and do the activities : (10 marks)

A1. Complete the sentences from the passage : (2) (i) The satellite mission is a ..................... (ii) We observe and understand changes .................. (iii) The mission will monitor movements of land and ................... (iv) The satellite will study climate change and support ..................

The NISAR satellite mission is a collaborative project between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aimed at transforming how we observe and understand changes on Earth’s surface. Using a unique combination of NASA’s L-band Radar and ISRO’s S-band Radar. NISAR will capture high resolution images in all weather conditions, day or night scheduled to launch from Shriharikota, India, abroad a GSLVMK–II rocket. The mission will monitor movements of land and ice, track natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, volcanic erruptions and flood and provide crucial data for studying climate change and managing natural resources. By delivering precise, consistent and global measurements, the NISAR mission will help scientists, policy-makers and communities better predict, prepare for and respond to environmental challenges. The NISAR satellite will study climate changes and support agriculture and ecosystem monitoring by combining data from both Radars. NASA will offer unprecedented accuracy in mapping and measuring Earth’s dynamic processes making it one of the most important Earth Science mission of the decade.

A2. Complete the web-diagram : (2) [Web diagram: a box at the top reads “Natural hazards mentioned in passage”; four arrows point down to four blank boxes.]

A3. Find from the passage antonyms of : (2) (i) low × ................... (ii) artificial × ................... (iii) inaccuracy × ................... (iv) unimportant × ...................

A4. Do as directed : (2) (i) The NISAR satellite will study climate change. (Choose the correct question tag — the options are given in the next question.) (ii) NISAR will capture high resolution images. (Rewrite using ‘going to’)

A5. How science is useful in our day to day life ? (2)

Q.4 (A) A4. (i) The NISAR satellite will study climate change. (Choose the correct question tag)

Q.4 (B) Summary Writing : (5 marks)

Read the passage given in Q. No. 4(A) and write a summary of it. Suggest a suitable title to your summary.

Q.5 (A) A1. Informal Letter : (5 marks) (alternative to A2)

Imagine you are Anup/Anushka Patil, residing at Main Road, Nashik. Read the following poster on your school notice board and write a letter to your father requesting him to attend the social and cultural gathering of your school. Take help of the points given in the poster. You may add your own points.

[Poster: “Social and Cultural Gathering — Mega Events”; Dance, Drawing, Singing, Drama, Games, One-act play, Mimicry, Mime; Duration : 10th March to 11th March; Venue : Cultural Hall, Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Nashik.]

Q.5 (A) A2. Formal Letter : (5 marks) (alternative to A1)

Imagine you are Anup/Anushka Patil, residing at Main Road, Nashik. Read the following poster on your school notice board and write a letter to the Education Officer of your District, requesting him/her to present as a chief guest for your school’s social and cultural gathering. You may add your own points.

[Poster: “Social and Cultural Gathering — Mega Events”; Dance, Drawing, Singing, Drama, Games, One-act play, Mimicry, Mime; Duration : 10th March to 11th March; Venue : Cultural Hall, Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Nashik.]

Q.5 (B) B1. Dialogue writing : (5 marks) (alternative to B2)

(a) Prepare a dialogue from the jumbled sentences : (1) (i) R.K. Narayan. (ii) Which is your favourite book ? (iii) Who is the writer of that book ? (iv) Swami and friends.

(b) Complete the dialogue : (1) Akash : Would you like to join armed force ? Vikas : ........................................................................................ Akash : Why would you like/don’t like to join it ? Vikas : ........................................................................................

(c) Write a dialogue between Sujit and Ajit on the given theme. (3) (minimum three meaningful exchanges) ‘Importance of Computer Education’

Q.5 (B) B2. Drafting a Speech : (5 marks) (alternative to B1)

Imagine you are the captain of the school. You are asked to deliver a speech on the occasion of ‘Sports Day’ on ‘Sportsmanship’. Prepare a speech. You may use the following points : Leadership. • Respect for opposing team, fellow players, officials. • Follow the rules. • Play fair/sportsmanship. • Language on and off the field. • Good health and personality.

Q.6 (A) Information Transfer : (5 marks) A1 or A2. Do any one of the following activities :

A1. Non-verbal to verbal : Read the information given in the web diagram and write a paragraph based on it. Give a suitable title to it :

[Web diagram: the centre box reads “Entertainment”; eight boxes around it read — Sports and games, Music and dance, Picnic and tour, Movie and drama, Television and mobile, Arts and craft, Reading and writing, Hobbies and recreation.]

Q.6 (A) A2. Verbal to Non-verbal : (5 marks) (alternative to A1)

Water is a chemical substance that is composed of hydrogen and oxygen (H2O) and is vital for all known forms of life. In typical usage, ‘water’ refers only to its liquid form, but it also has a solid state, ice and a gaseous state, water vapor or steam. Water covers 71% of the Earth’s surface. On Earth, it is found mostly in oceans and other large bodies of water, with 1.6% of water below ground in aquifers and 0.001% in the air as vapor, clouds and precipitation. Oceans hold 97% of surface water, glaciers and polar ice caps 2.4% and other land surface water such as rivers, lakes and ponds 0.6%. Additionally a minute amount of the Earth’s water is contained within biological bodies and manufactured products.

Title .................................................................................... [Table with columns No., Area acquired by water, Percentage — rows : 1 Earth surface ...; 2 Below ground ...; 3 Air ...; 4 ... 97; 5 ... ...; 6 River, lake, pond ...; 7 ... Minute.]

Q.6 (B) B1. Expand the theme — News Report : (5 marks) (alternative to B2)

Write a news report based on the given headline : ‘Ideal School celebrated “Environment Day”’. Points : Headline • Date line • Lead line • Body of the report • Conclusion.

Q.6 (B) B2. Develop a story : (5 marks) (alternative to B1)

Develop a story with the following beginning. Give a suitable title to your story. It was raining heavily. I was alone at home ............................................................

Q.7 Translation : (5 marks)

(a) Translate the following words into your medium of instruction (any four) : (2) (1) Environment (2) Heritage (3) Traffic (4) Different (5) Rain (6) World

(b) Translate the following sentences into your medium of instruction (any two) : (2) (1) Study at least 6 to 8 hours daily. (2) Make your own study time table. (3) Books are our best friends. (4) Hardwork is a key of success.

(c) Translate the following idioms/proverbs into your medium of instruction (any one) : (1) (1) Work is worship. (2) Well begun is half done.